ISSN: 2574-2701
Authors: Nezif Abamecha*
Since infant food protein-energy malnutrition is a problem in Africa and other developing nations of the world. Food and Agricultural Organization’s statistics also reveal that in Africa, more than one in four people are malnourished. Food cereal grains are a major staple in many African homes contributing significant amounts of energy protein, but limiting in essential amino acid of lysine. Legumes on the other hand are protein and amino acid rich foods, but also lacking in sulphur-containing amino acids. Hence, a combination of these two grain foods would improve the protein and nutrient density of the subsequent food products. Probably due to their high nutritional values, however, this review therefore, assesses various works in literature on the use of these crops to produce composite food products. Complementary foods in most developing countries are based on staple cereal or root crops. Although, commercial foods of high quality are occasionally available, they are often expensive and therefore unaffordable by low-income rural households. Different approaches are needed to offer families the opportunity to feed their infants on improved formulations using low cost and locally available staples, because of Protein-energy malnutrition among children is the major health challenges and it may be related to low nutritional quality of traditional complementary foods and high cost of quality protein based complementary foods. This review also aimed at the formulation, preparation and evaluation of low-cots, locally available products based on cereals and pulses.
Keywords: Blends Cereal-Legume; Complementary Foods; Infant Food; Nutritional Content; Sensory Acceptability
